One killed, two injured in Russian plant blast

31 Jan, 2008 12:17 / Updated 16 years ago

A 56-year-old shift supervisor has been killed in an explosion at a metals plant in Russia's Vologda region. Two people were injured at the Severstal-owned plant in the city of Cherepovets.

They suffered minor burns and are currently being treated in hospital. Russian technical watchdog Rostekhnadzor says the explosion was caused by machinery malfunctioning. Authorities say the blast happened near a furnace, and scattered burning debris across a 500 square metre area. The blaze then spread to air heaters and the roof.